UNITEDRANT

Signs point to Evra departure

Fan favourite Patrice Evra may have less than six months left at Old Trafford after the left-back’s agent failed to guarantee the player’s long-term future at Manchester United. Federico Pastorelo confirmed Internazionale’s interest in the United defender, whose contract runs to June 2012, but said there is no plan for departure during the winter transfer window.

Yet it is Pastorelo’s assertion that his client will decide whether to “stay or go” this summer that will concern United fans most. After all rumours of Evra’s departure have circulated for more than a year now and a new contract is yet to be signed.

“We will sit down in the summer with Manchester United and decide whether he will extend his contract or move on,” Pastorelo told Sport.co.uk on Monday.

“But for the moment there is nothing special to say on the situation. There has been interest, and I have read about Real Madrid but really the only official interest was from Inter Milan last summer.

“We had a long chat with Sir Alex Ferguson and it was decided he would stay in Manchester. His contract runs out in the summer of 2012 and there he is concentrating and focused on this season.”

Indeed, current signs point to a summer departure unless Evra receives a substantial pay rise in keeping with the defender’s status as the world’s leading left-back. That Evra is yet to publicly commit to the club, nor any talks on a deal yet confirmed, only adds credibility to the rumour of a summer move to the continent.

Moreover, the agent’s carefully chosen words, much like those of Nemanja Vidic’s representative last year, leave the player’s options open, while avoiding painting his client into a corner. After all, Madrid is still reportedly interested despite the improved form of Marcelo this season.

Nor should there be any surprise at Old Trafford that the player is prepared to play the market, despite Evra’s status as a fan favourite. After all, Wayne Rooney’s excessive new deal has set in motion substantial pay increases for United’s stars as wage inflation continues unabated. That John O’Shea’s proposed new deal is reportedly worth more than £80,000 per week puts into perspective Evra’s probable and realistic demands.

The player is in a strong negotiating position too. Evra’s departure – should it happen – will not only cause further disruption to United’s defence for the 2011/12 season but necessitate a potentially large transfer fee for an appropriately top class replacement. After all, Edwin van der Sar is now certain to retire in June and while Fabio da Silva has much promise, Rafael’s brother has little to no experience. With Gary Neville also likely to retire this summer and Wes Brown on his way to pastures new it promises to be a close-season of defensive change at the club.
This change comes just as Ferguson’s back four offers more solidity than ever with Rio Ferdinand’s return to long-term fitness and captain Vidic now settled at the club.

Any transfer will also rob United fans of a favourite son. Not only has Evra developed into one of the world’s finest during a five-year stint at Old Trafford but he is a character to boot. Ever quotable, the 29-year-old defender seemingly has the fans at heart.

But there is a counter argument to the populist view of Evra – one that few fans will accept. Ruthless perhaps, but Ferguson could lose Evra knowing that the player’s best years are behind him. Turning 30 in May, Evra will command a gradually lower transfer fee while earning superstar wages should he sign a contract extension in the coming months. It’s an economic imperative that will force the player out in June and rather than on a Bosman free in 2012 should a new deal not be agreed.

More to the point, Evra’s performances have noticeably dropped this season. A World Cup hangover perhaps but the Senegalese-born defender is yet to hit previous heights. While that is of course understandable – Evra’s part in the French World Cup rebellion has seemingly been punished with permanent exclusion from the national team – long-term decline will inevitably set in at some point.

That said, the player’s departure is not inevitable. After all, captain Vidic remained non-committal for months while speculation raged about a move to Milan, Madrid or Barcelona. The Serbian’s reward: a 30 per cent pay rise that will make the 29-year-old millions.

In the modern football market the choice is now Evra’s. Old Trafford or abroad, the Frenchman will be very well rewarded.

Yashi – Charming language. Here’s another lesson in language – the word reportedly is key here. And here’s a report for you. One of many that is well sourced on the negotiations – deal is on the table not yet signed.

I don’t believe anything that comes out of The Sun, it’s just tabloid nonsense. I don’t think his reported salary comes into the discussion as to whether Evra is leaving or not. I don’t think Evra is comparing the current contract on the table with O’Shea’s contract. I got annoyed because a lot of Utd fans seem to think that it’s another reason to hate O’Shea, when it’s only a reported figure which looks very unlikely on the face of it.

Anyway, I would be gutted if Evra is not offered anything approaching what the likes of Rio and Vidic are on.

mongo – he’s been on at me on Twitter too. I think his problem is that it was first reported in the Sun. Repeated in the broadsheets and also in RI’s editorial.. and I might say from what I’ve been told too. But probably not enough for him. Needs Barrack Obama to declare it for it to be true.

Love him – his media outbursts, his on pitch antics, the effort, the energy and the bollocks he shows. What a buy – if we can piss 250k a week on Rooney we can reward Evra with some of the same. Evra backed by Fabio is an excellent combination. Fabio was very good last weekend.

If Evra goes then am sure that SAF has lost his mind completely. He is the ONLY proper left footer we have in the side and we suffer greatly when do not have him. It will be sheer madness to allow him to leave.

Reminds me of the ’01 season when Silvestre was the only proper left footer we had and our manager used to start games (with Giggs injured) with the Frenchman on the bench and our overall game will suffer. Fabio is like Irwin and Pip Neville before him – right footed left backs who are ok when we are dominant but who will be shown up when we are struggling for a foothold. It is actually poor of us that we have only two left footers in the first team squad – please let no one mention Anderson as he can hardly play in a decent cross – the other is an over the hill winger at the end of his career.

I would be very surprised if he leaves. Seems like standard contract negotiation tactics to me. He’s bound to want an increase, like Vidic, and will probably get it. United will play hardball for a bit but eventually cave in. I don’t think his performances have noticeably dropped, perhaps teams realise he is a vital part of or attack now. Replacing him would be a nightmare. Coentrao is good but how many Portuguese full-backs have been promising but failed to convince in the Premiership – Bosingwa, Ferreira etc.

Read some quotes attributed to Evra yesterday regarding a potential exchange with Sergio Ramos and he said something to the effect that if United want to exchange him for another player, Madrid would be his prefferable option BUT ONLY with the blessing of the club. ball is in our court.

Can understand the logic presented in the article, however watching the Evra and Vidic 5 years interview on MUTV leads me to believe that he will stay, with a payrise which will be respectable and deserved. 30 is the new 28!

I see no reason why Fabio should not become as good as his twin, that is potentially world class. A strong argument can be made for giving him his chance. Evra has a lot to offer, going forwards & particularly adding some much needed vim & spirit to the team, but he does not offer a goal threat & his defending has been poor at times this season. Yes, we do need players to get the fans going. I think that he would struggle to get into the Real side, Marcelo is a very similar player but a lot younger. In my opinion Ramos is a much better player, offering everything that Evta gives, but a big threat in the air & a real physical presence.

Seems to me that Evra will only leave if he wants to go. I think United will put in a decent offer (like they did with Vidic) and he’ll stay. As you highlight, Fabio is not ready yet, so at least two more seasons from Paddy would be preferable.

As much as I do love the guy and his sound defensive displays and marauding runs forward, I do wish he was a better crosser. Given the positions he gets into he should create more.

There’s so many United players nearing contract negotiation time that we’re going to get rumours about people leaving the Club constantly from now on.

Calvino said:the other is an over the hill winger at the end of his career.

Do you actually watch any games? Hell, do you even know where OT is? I’ll give you a clue; it’s where a 37 year old Welshman defies age for another season, producing some sublime performances. Sure, he can’t play EVERY game now, but he’s at least “good” in most of the games I’ve seen this season.

So basically; I think I speak for most folk here when I say you’re ongoing anti-Giggs outbursts make you look like a tit.

mongoletsi said:
Do you actually watch any games? Hell, do you even know where OT is? I’ll give you a clue; it’s where a 37 year old Welshman defies age for another season, producing some sublime performances. Sure, he can’t play EVERY game now, but he’s at least “good” in most of the games I’ve seen this season.

So basically; I think I speak for most folk here when I say you’re ongoing anti-Giggs outbursts make you look like a tit.

Good day sir!

We’ve had it for 5 or 6 years mate

Cal has been calling for Scholes & Giggs to retire since the very first Rant

Cal has been calling for Scholes & Giggs to retire since the very first Rant

@ Mongo, knowing where Old Trafford is makes you know a thing or two about football right?Tool!! So it is only at Manchester United where they have invented anti-ageing process that a 37 year old is footballer is not over the hill? Goodness me.

Sid, you poor fellow. The ED, can bear witness that I only started calling for their retirements at the start of the ’08 season. But you can think differently.

Ed makes an excellent point re: Evra’s age. I am not sure that Evra will fetch a big fee considering that he would then only have a year in his contract. Given the comments, hopefully Evra will agree to a new deal and inflate his transfer fee a little if he is to go.

Supposedly Benfica was more willing to sell Coentrao than Luiz. I don’t know whether the club will want to sell Coentrao now that they suckered 20 mil + out of Chelsea for Luiz but if we can get him at a reasonable price he will be more than able replacement for Evra.

Remember that Luiz is third party owned meaning Benfica only get like 30% of the fee, hence why they’re haggling hard over the fee and also why they were more keen on offloading a player they would receive a higher fee for.

Ian – Each time I’ve seen Ramos perform, he has been awful. No positional sense whatsoever. Would not want to see him at United. At all. Unless he was in a Real shirt, and he was having one of Nani / Tony V / Evra dick all over him all game.

Ben Hulston said:
Ian – Each time I’ve seen Ramos perform, he has been awful. No positional sense whatsoever. Would not want to see him at United. At all. Unless he was in a Real shirt, and he was having one of Nani / Tony V / Evra dick all over him all game.

he was sensational at the WC – wld rather have evra as he is a great leader

Well Ben we chose to disagree. I have seen Ramos on many occasions including matches at the Bernabeu. I think his defensive positional sense is no worse than Evras or Alves. But Raphael will do for me; we don’t need Ramos. Very surprised many on the site don’t seem to rate Fabio very highly.

This sounds like the standard agent talk that precedes every contract negotiation. Drop a few hints that the player would be open to moving, mention the same damn clubs as they always do (surprised he didn’t say Barça), then sign a new deal. Yawn.

I like Evra, although his bush league behavior at the World Cup made me cringe. I doubt he’s going anywhere.

Your over the hill winger just turned in a game-changing performance, laying on the equalising goal and tormenting the Blackpool defence every time he was on the ball. Not too shabby for somebody at the end of his career…

Calvino said:
@ Mongo, knowing where Old Trafford is makes you know a thing or two about football right?Tool!! So it is only at Manchester United where they have invented anti-ageing process that a 37 year old is footballer is not over the hill? Goodness me.
Sid, you poor fellow. The ED, can bear witness that I only started calling for their retirements at the start of the ’08 season. But you can think differently.

Calvino said:
Sid, you poor fellow. The ED, can bear witness that I only started calling for their retirements at the start of the ’08 season. But you can think differently.

It’s gone on longer than 2/3 years. I was there on the original Rant and I remember you banging on about Giggs & Scholes
Btw, did you see Giggs’ first touch and pass to set up Hernandez’s goal?
He plucked a 60 yard ball out of the air with one touch, then hit an inch perfect pass into space with his second touch
Also, did you see Scholes’ pass for Berba’s third? Berba pulls off his man, Scholes sees it and hits a quick ball out wide
Quick-thinking, composed, intelligent attacking football. World class